Page 96 of Ready or Not

We settle in after our appointment, but Aurora is fussy. She has a fresh diaper, and I just finished feeding her. Outside of being overly tired, I can’t imagine what could be wrong.

“She clearly takes after Garza, complaining about everything,” Ranger says, taking the seat next to me on the couch.

Aurora screams even louder, and my cheeks heat.

Shouldn’t I be able to soothe my own baby?

“Shhh,” I coo, trying my best to simulate the swaying from side to side that I do when I’m standing. It’s the only time she seems truly content, but apparently, she can tell I’m sitting down, and this version of rocking doesn’t count.

“No one complains as much as you do,” Cooper calls from the kitchen. He’s in the midst of making me something to eat for lunch.

“Here you are,” Ranger says, placing a card on my thigh. “Allow me to try while you open your card.” He stretches out a forearm and nods. His pale blue eyes indicate that I’m supposed to be doing something, but I have no idea what. “You can barely get up and down. She’s not content staying stationary. I promise not to drop her.”

Cooper snorts a laugh. “He’s probably fine for short bursts of childcare.”

Ranger raises a finger, flipping off my alpha. He leans over, scooping her out of my arms. “Open your card.”

“Where is Kate?” I ask, grabbing the pale pink envelope and unfolding the flap.

“Probably getting tag teamed by Hargrove and Merryweather,” Ranger says in what I think might pass for an attempt at a baby voice.

I’d legitimately get on his ass about talking that way in front of my child, but she’s not even a week old. And also, a whole ton of crisp one-hundred-dollar bills fall out of the card.

“Holy shit,” I gasp.

“It’s to start a savings account for the little one.” Ranger rocks a now much less fussy Aurora against his chest. “If I hadn’t called Garza in to work that morning, things would have gone differently for the two of you. This is my apology. I would like it if you could accept it without any complaints about it being too much.”

The card is generic, but it’s signed, You’re welcome.

“Do you want me to refill your cup?” Cooper calls from the kitchen.

“Yeah,” I agree, shoving the hundreds back into the card and putting it back in the envelope.

I’m still flabbergasted.

Exactly how much money do these guys make for the type of contracts Bishop mentioned the public will never know about?

That is absolutely not my business, and he actually managed to comfort my kid.

I drop the card on the coffee table and stretch back against the cushion. “Thank you.”

“Well.” Ranger’s nose wrinkles as he stares down at Aurora. “There’s a truly vile smell coming from your diaper. Garza, get your ass in here.” He chuckles, pulling her out to rest on his forearms as he sways. “I’d be quite offended you couldn’t wait until I placed you down, but it seems like it’s taxing your tiny system.” He looks at me. “Her face is red, but it’s the grunting and wiggling that gets me. I think this dirty diaper is the hardest thing she’s had to accomplish today.”

I snort, looking toward Cooper in the kitchen. “Could you bring my pain meds? They wore off really fast.”

“Yep, give me just a minute.”

I nod and focus back on Ranger. He’s handsome, in a classical kind of way. I think he’ll make an omega very happy one day. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. It’s kind of baffling why Kate hates him so much.

He might be a little strange, but I think they all make him out to be worse than he is. Or maybe I’ve just never had to see the evil side of him that they all talk about.

And honestly, I hope I never have to.

I wake up in bed alone late the same night. My breasts ache, and I need my pain meds. I’m even more alarmed when Aurora isn’t in her bassinet. I ignore the urge to aim for the bathroom and frantically shuffle toward the door. Maybe they’ve got her downstairs?

The pediatrician did recommend a formula that we’ve been supplementing with since yesterday, but I’m still not giving up on nursing. I’d rather try that first whenever possible. More than that, I don’t like that she’s just gone, and no one woke me to warn me.

I make it into the hall, and the door to her room is open.

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